Balance of Payments Adjustment and Productivity Growth in Nigeria: A Small Macroeconometric Analysis

This study using aggregate data from 1970 to 2012, investigates balance of payments adjustment and productivity growth in Nigeria by specifying a small macro- econometric model to analyze the various channels through which the economy’s Bop position could be enhanced. The empirical model identifies real exchange rate, government expenditure/revenue, real trade, and foreign direct investment as the various channels that drive productivity growth of the Nigerian economy. The simultaneous equation model was analyzed using the ECM – error correction model approach rather than the conventional Ordinary Least Square (OLS) to overcome simultaneity bias while the unit roots and co-integration tests was carried out using ADF and Johansen/Juselius techniques. The stability test of the parameters of the model was also carried out using the cumulative sum of squares residuals (CUSUM). The result shows that the elasticity of oil revenue, real trade balance, and credit to the private sector, foreign direct investment, government expenditure and degree of openness have positive and significant effect on real GDP while the CUSUM test falls within the 5% critical bound showing the stability of   the simultaneous equation models and thus validating the model. Among the findings of the study is that there is a relationship between changes in real exchange rate misalignment and changes in actual exchange rate. This, therefore suggest that the monetary authorities can use exchange rate alignments to develop the external sector of the Nigerian economy, via the non-oil export thereby solving the BoP disequilibrium Problem. (JEL Codes): F4,F32, C5 Keywords: Balance of Payments mechanism, adjustment policies, macro- econometric model, ECM, CUSUM Test

Design and development of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) leaves slicing machine

A motorized fluted pumpkin leaves slicer was designed, fabricated and tested. The machine comprises a conveyor system made from a rubber belt, two pairs of bearings and two hollow metal rods, a frame made from metal sheets for support. The slicing unit comprising the cutting blades and a drive (transmission) shaft, and finally a 746 W (1 hp) power drive mechanism (electric motor). Tests carried out on the machine involved placing 1 kg of fluted pumpkin leaves on the conveyor belt, which was then conveyed to the slicing unit, where it was chopped to desired size. It took an average of 9 minutes to process 1kg of the fluted pumpkin leaves during the test. Series of tests were carried out on the machine, which showed that it had an efficiency of 73.2% and is much faster than hand/manual slicing method.Keywords: design, development, fluted pumpkin, slicing machin

Prevalence and Impact of Socio-Economic/Enviromental Factors on Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infection in Children Attending Clinic in a Tertiary Hospital in Benin City, Nigeria

Children are important risk group for soil-transmitted helminths (STH). Hence, this study was undertaken to determine the impact of mothers’ educational status, the method of fecal disposal and source of water supply on the prevalence of STH infection. Four hundred and ninety six children, aged 1-15 years, who presented at the Children Out-patient Clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) were screened for STH in their stool, using methods of wet preparation and Stoll's technique for detection and counting of helminthes eggs. A semi-structured, researcher administered questionnaire was used to collect information on socio demographics of mother/care giver, history of de-worming, source of water supply, and method of fecal disposal. The overall prevalence of STH infections was 9.5%, corresponding to 6.9% of Ascaris lumbricoides, 2.4% of hookworm and 0.2% of Trichuris trichiuria. Infection with hookworm was of highest intensity. Age group 6 - 10 had the highest prevalence of STH. Mother/caregivers level of education, method of faecal disposal and source of water supply, all significantly influenced the prevalence of STH infection. There is need for a coordinated, multi-sectarian and multidisciplinary strategy that integrates periodic deworming, health education and environmental sanitation for effective control.Keywords: Soil-transmitted helminths; Prevalence; Children; Benin City

Intentions of Registered Antenatal Clinic Patients About Utilizing Labour and Delivery Services if They Tested HIV-Positive

Background: Nigeria bears a sizeable proportion of the global HIV burden; mother to child transmission as a major contributor and prevention of mother to child transmission the hope for a HIV-free generation.Objective: To find evaluate how booked antenatal attendees intend to utilize the labour and delivery services of the state teaching hospital in Abakaliki in their index pregnancies and if they tested HIV positive.Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of the attendees to the booking clinic. Data on patients' ages, marital status, past obstetric history, where clients would deliver their index pregnancies normallyand if they tested positive to HIV, and the reasons behind their decisions, were collected with pretested self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 15.Results: Four hundred and twenty-three (84.6%) of the questionnaires were analyzed. There were 288 patients who had been previously pregnant, of whom 274 (95.1%) booked for antenatal care, with 90.5%of the booking occurring after the first trimester. About 16.7% delivered in facilities without skilled professional care. A total of 90.8% of the respondents desired to deliver their index pregnancies in the teaching hospital because the hospital is equipped for emergency obstetric care. If HIV positive in index pregnancy, 93.9% will prefer to deliver in the teaching hospital mainly to prevent mother to child transmission. However, 6.1% of the respondents did not desire to deliver in the teaching hospital even ifpositive, with some even preferring to deliver at home.Conclusion: A HIV-free generation can be achieved if pregnant mothers are encouraged to utilize labour and delivery services that help prevent mother to child transmission of HIV by provision of free maternal services, conduction of staff education to correct unfriendliness, refitting the labour and delivery wards, introduction of community PMTCT, continued awareness creation and economic empowerment.Keywords: Utilization, Labour, Booking, Antenatal Clients, Nigeri

Influence of Long-term Ingestion of Garcinia Kola Seed Diet on Sperm Count, Sperm Motility, and Fertility in the Wistar Rat

The influence of long-term ingestion of Garcinia kola seed on the sperm count, sperm motility, and fertility was investigated in the rat. Twenty adult Wistar rats initially weighing between 150 and 160 g were randomly divided into 2 groups (A and B) of 10 rats each. Group A animals served as control and were fed normal rat feed. Group B rats were fed Garcinia kola seed diet, obtained by mixing 20g of Garcinia kola seed powder and 80g of rat feed (20% w/w). The animals were allowed their respective diets and tap water ad libitum for 8 weeks. The results obtained revealed that there was a significant difference (p< 0.05) between the sperm count (16.42 × 106 ± 5.25 × 106/ml) and sperm motility(8.72 ± 2.33%) of the treatment group (Group B) and the respective values of the control, sperm count (89.38 × 106 ±  3.68 × 106/ml) and sperm motility (75.56  ±  1.23%). The findings suggest that long- term ingestion of Garcinia kola seed diet may cause a significant reduction in sperm count, sperm motility, and ultimately infertility in the male wistar rat. Keywords: Fertility; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Garcinia kola; Wistar rat.

Prognostic values of adiponectin and leptin in assessment of osteoarthritis in menopausal HIV women in Nauth Nnewi Nigeria

Background: Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) has progressively been implicated with development of inflammatory disease including osteoarthritis. This study evaluated serum levels of adiponectin and leptin in women living with HIV with/without osteoarthritis who have been placed on highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in NAUTH, Nnewi, Nigeria. Methods: Eighty eight participants aged between 18 and 65 years attending HAART unit of NAUTH, Nnewi were randomly selected and grouped thus: Group A (premenopausal HIV seropositive women with osteoarthritis), group B (postmenopausal HIV seropositive women with osteoarthritis), group C (premenopausal HIV seropositive women) and group D (postmenopausal HIV seropositive women). Five milliliters of blood sample collected from each of participants for determination of adiponectin and leptin using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results: Adiponectin level was significantly higher in postmenopausal HIV seropositive women with osteoarthritis compared with pre and postmenopausal HIV seropositive women without osteoarthritis (p<0.05 respectively). Similarly, leptin level was significantly higher in pre and post-menopausal HIV seropositive women with osteoartritis compared with their counterparts without osteoarthritis (p<0.05 respectively). A positive significant correlation was observed between Leptin and age in premenopausal HIV seropositive women with osteoarthritis. Also, a significant negative correlation was observed between adiponectin, age in pre and postmenopausal HIV seropositive women without osteoarthritis. Conclusions: The significant increases in adiponectin and leptin levels in pre and postmenopausal HIV seropositive women can be linked to severe inflammatory reaction due to osteoarthritis which might have been aggravated by combined effects of menopause and HIV infection

Detection and phenotypic characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from clinical and community samples in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Objective: The objective of this study was to isolate and phenotypically characterize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)from clinical and community samples in Abakaliki, Nigeria.Methods: A total of 709 clinical (303) and community samples (406) samples were obtained for this study. MRSA isolates were detected using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method with the inclusion of 1 μg oxacillin and cefoxitin antibiotic disc. The isolates were screened for the β-lactamase production using nitrocefin sticks.Results: A total of 44 MRSA isolates were obtained from the samples with prevalence frequency of 22.6 % and 20.8 % from clinical and community samples respectively. The clinical isolates were completely resistant (100 %) to ceftazidime, tetracycline and penicillin. Gentamicin and ciprofloxacin were the most effective antibiotics against the clinical and community isolates respectively with a susceptibility frequency of 63.2 % and 80 %. Exactly 38.1 % and 24.2 % of the clinical and community S. aureus isolates were positive for beta-lactamase production respectively. The HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA isolates had MARI valueswithin the range of 0.3 to 1.0.Conclusion: This present findings of multi-drug resistance MRSA is very worrisome as it further highlights the pressing need to keep a strict watch on MRSA emerging from this study area.Keywords: MRSA, beta-lactamase, antibiotics, multidrug resistance, clinical samples, community samples

Assessment of Serum Copeptin Level and eGFR in Adult Hypertensive Individuals Suspected with Polycystic Kidney Disease in NAUTH, Nnewi

Background: Hypertension is consistently implicated in the development of chronic kidney diseases globally, though its pathologic process in the development of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is still unclear. This study is a cross-sectional prospective study designed to evaluate the renal function of hypertensive individuals suspected with Polycystic kidney disease using serum Copeptin, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) as Biomarkers. Methods: A simple random sampling technique was employed in the recruitment of forty (40) hypertensive patients suspected with Polycystic kidney disease (test group), and forty (40) normotensive individuals (control group), both within the age range of 25 - 90 years. Blood sample was collected and serum extracted for the analysis of these parameters using microplate ELISA and colorimetric method respectively. The serum creatinine was used to calculate for the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for each individuals, urinalysis for urine protein, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), Systolic blood pressure  (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure  (DBP) for anthropometric measurements were also performed for each individuals. Results: Serum copeptin, was significantly higher while eGFR was significantly lower in test group compared to control group, including in gender-based comparison. The mean values of age, BMI, WHR, SBP and DBP were significantly higher in test group compared to control group, including in gender-based comparison. BNP and copeptin were significantly correlated with SBP. Conclusively, the significant increase in serum copeptin with decreased eGFR among hypertensive individuals strongly indicates derangement in renal function which may suggest evidence of polycystic kidney disease and may subsequently progress to renal failure if not properly managed. The significant increases in both BMI and WHR as observed among the study group suggests overweight which is a strong risk factor of hypertension as well polycystic kidney disease. Keywords: Polycytic Kidney disease, Copeptin, eGFR, Adults, Hypertension, Nigeria DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/109-04 Publication date:June 30th 202

Performance Evaluation of Home-developed Four-row Animal Drawn Precision Maize Planter using a Pair of Bull to Plant SAMMAZ 17 Maize Variety in Samaru-Zaria, Nigeria

Realization of optimum yield per hectare in maize production has always been a challenge especially when using home-developed equipment. The objectives of this research was to evaluate the effect of ground speed, hopper seed quantity and planting depth on plant spacing, germination count, and seed delivery rate of a home-developed four-row animal drawn precision maize planter using a pair of bull to plant SAMMAZ 17 maize variety on a harrowed field. It was drawn by a pair of bull in a 3×3×2 randomized complete block experimental design. The treatment factors were three levels of hopper seed quantity (25%, 50% and 100%), three levels of ground speed (2.16, 2.88, and 3.6 km/h) and two levels of planting depth (15 and 25 mm). The results showed that the effects of planting speed, seed quantity and planting depth were highly significant on the planting performance of the machine. The optimum mean seed spacing, germination counts, field efficiency and seed delivery rate of 23.52 cm, 100 %, 86.9% and 20.3 kg/ha respectively were obtained. The study show that optimum seed stand could be achieved with home-developed planted for optimum yield when ground speed, hopper seed quantity and planting depth were varied appropriately

Assessment of serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and albumin in human immuno-deficiency virus-infected individuals with or without malaria parasite infection in Nauth, Nnewi, Nigeria

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection with malaria is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, including Nigeria. Both infections have impact on the disease severity and progression. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study aimed to determine the serum soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and albumin in HIV/malaria-infected individuals attending the antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic at Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, (NAUTH) Nnewi, Nigeria. 168 randomly selected individuals aged 18-65 years grouped into 42 HIV-infected individuals on ART, 42 HIV-malaria c-o-infected individuals on ART, 42 malaria-infected individuals, and 42 apparently healthy individuals (control) were included in the study. Serum sICAM-1 and albumin were determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and bromocresol green technique respectively while CD4 T-cell count was obtained from the patients’ records. Results: The mean serum sICAM-1, albumin and systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels were significantly higher in HIV individuals with and without malaria infection when compared with control participants (p<0.05) respectively. The mean CD4 T-cell count was significantly lower in HIV/malaria co-infected individuals when compared with HIV infected individuals (p <0.05). A significant negative correlation was observed between CD4 count and sICAM-1 both in HIV infected individuals and HIV-malaria co-infection (p<0.05). Conclusions: The increased sICAM-1, SBP with decreased albumin levels suggests inflammatory and vascular changes with reduced hepatic synthesis which may result in endothelial dysfunction, adverse cardiovascular conditions, and disease progression.